February 13, 2016 - La Cava Restaurant - Guerrero, Chihuahua, Mexico

Jo Martin and I are now making our way north during our tour of Mexico.  We stopped at La Cava Restaurant for lunch.  We started with chips and guacamole – the best we have eaten in Mexico.  This followed with vegetable soup and homemade – hot – fresh out of the oven bread with butter.  Fantastic tasting bread.  Lunch was a combination platter of Anaheim Chile Relleno with cheese and Beef Brochette and Spinach.  Dessert:  the very best homemade apple pie with ice cream…after all we are in apple country.

                   Carol Canuel one of our table mates as we sit down to chips and quacamole.

Anaheim Chile Relleno with Cheese

Beef Brochette

Spinach

Dessert -  Hot - Fresh out of the Oven - Homemade Applie Pie with Ice Cream

                                                          Don't those look delicious?

February 10, 2016 - Hotel Torres del Fuerte Dining Room - El Fuerte, State of Sinaloa - Mexico

Jo Martin and I are staying the night at  El Fuerte in the Hotel Torres del Fuerte.  Tomorrow we will boarded "El Chepe" - the train that will transport us to the Copper Canyon.  We were welcomed with Sangria as we entered the hotel.

After checking into our room we ordered cocktails in this small quaint bar.  The four stools which Pat and Joan Beshok (neighbors in Las Palmas who were on the tour with us.), Jo and I occupied each with its own fur piece atop.  I had a hard time climbing up on the stool so Joan put my ‘skin” in the corner.  I started with a pina colada.  The drinks get stronger the deeper we drive into Mexico.

We had a lovely dinner – Grilled Black Bass in Garlic Butter – absolutely melted in your mouth –  no fish taste.  It was served on a bed of rice..along with vegetables - zucchini, onions, beans  and carrots - cooked perfectly and tasted delicious..

After dinner we sat out o the patio and watched the Jaqui Deer Dancer.  He was really good.  Then Jalisco dances…followed by Vera Cruz dances.

February 9, 2016 - Casa de Los Tesoros - Alamos, Sonora, Mexico

We are still on our trip in Mexico.  Today we traveled from San Carlos to Alamos...a lovely town filled with mansions from the 1800s.  These mansions fell into disrepair once the mining industry petered out.  In the 1940s people started moving back to Alamos and refurbishing the mansions. Great city to visit.

Our room for the evening is at the Casa de Los Tesoros, a former convent built in 1789.  It will be like sleeping in a musuem.  The walls are lined with paintings.  Stone scupltures abound in the courtyard.  Our dinner this evening in the hotel dining room was fabulous.

Both Jo Martin and I ordered the Stuffed Chile Poblano – seasoned meat, egg batter and tomato sauces, rice and vegetables.  It was the herbs and seasonings that made this first time tried dish.  I loved it.  The rice was green.  I must find out what was in it.  It was delicious.  We were also served a thinly coated and crusty half of an avocado that was warm and delicious. (I do not know how it was cooked.  I don’t think it was baked because the avocado itself was still firm. Later, as we talked about how good it was, we decided that it had been lightly breaded and deep fat fried really rapidly.)

I have never eaten any type of stuffed chile so I decided to try this while in Mexico.  I wanted to eat different Mexican food from what I was used to eating in the United States.  The Poblano Chile was stuffed to the max with the seasoned meat.  I really don't feel as if I have ever eaten anything quite this tasty.  Now, I want to try this again to see what I have been missing all these years.

February 8, 2016 - Bonifacio Beach Club - San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico

I am traveling with my friend, Jo Martin in Mexico.  We spent a couple days in San Carlos.  While there we were able to enjoy a lovely dinner at Bonifacio Beach Club.

As we walked in…we were given one of their signature drinks – Baby Mangos – tequila, mango juice, in a margarita glass with a salted rim with lime and chili powder.  We sipped this as we watched the most gorgeous sunset color the sky.  

The appetizer was a “Hoja Santa” Wrap – cheese crust with white wine mushrooms, fresh cilantro and a Mexican sauce all wrapped in a “Hoja Santa” leaf.   What is “Hoja Santa”?  Piper auritum (Hoja santa) is an aromatic herb with a heart-shaped, velvety leaf which grows in tropic Mesoamerica. The name hoja santameans "sacred leaf" in Spanish. It is also known as yerba santa, hierba santa, Mexican pepperleaf, acuyo, tlanepa, anisillo, root beer plant, Vera Cruz pepper and sacred pepper.  I liked it.  It tasted wonderful.

The main course was Pork Tenderloin Fettuccii Pablano – export cut seasoned and grilled pork tenderloin over fettuccini pasta with a light and creamy Mexican Poblano sauce, fresh cilantro and cherry tomatoes.

January 29, 2016 - Il Forno - Mesa, Arizona

I enjoyed my third dinner at Il Forno on January 29, 2016  with Sandy Wilts, Sheila and Gary Lagrimanta and Mary Jo Brown.  Sheila ordered the Shrimp Ravioli.  I had a bite of her dish.  The ravs were loaded with a shrimp and cheeses mixture.  Mary Jo ordered the Linguine and Clams.   I have reviewed this dish during my December 16 2015 visit.  You may visit that post to read about it.

Sandy tried the Pasta Alfredo in the white sauce.  Mike and Carol Thompson shared the Penne with meat sauce.  The two Italians of the group...who both love lasagna ordered the Homemade Lasagna. It also is reviewed during my December 15...and December 16, 2015 visit.

I didn't think that my lasagna tasted as good this time as it did the first two times...so I will be forced to try it again and see what I am served.

Mary Jo Brown with her Linguine and Clams.  She liked her very well.  Once again as Sandy has always said about this dish.  "The best part is taking a chunk of bread and sopping up the great butter sauce."

Sheila Lagrmanta enjoying her Shrimp Ravioli and Cosmo.

Mike and Carol Thompson sharing Penne in Meat Sauce.

Il Forno

6606 E. McKellips Road

Mesa, Arizona 85215

(480) 807-0888

Hours: Monday- Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

            Friday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

            Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.